Porch Lights by Dorthea Benton Frank

  
Dorothea Benton Frank makes me want to pack my bags and move to Charleston, SC or one of the islands just of the coast. Her story is woven with the timelessness of loss, love, mother-daughter issues, growing up, and sadly dealing with an untimely death. 

I do take issue though to her portrayal of Annie Britt, the 58 year old mother and grandmother in the book. She seems totally disconnected with technology. Now I can’t write computer programs but I do use technology on a daily basis and her portrayal of Annie as technologically inept aged her tremendously. Now I do worry about aging just like Annie. I never want to ask anyone how old I look for fear they will say something older than my 56 years.

Her daughter, Jackie and son Charlie come for a visit after the death of her fireman husband in a tragic fire related accident. Having made a life for herself in Brooklyn and in thand Army as a nurse, she has seen the worst the world has to offer. Charlie is ten and as expected has withdrawn since his father’s death.

Add in to th the mix, a beach front home with a porch, separated grandparents, a wise best friend, two rambunctious dogs and an attractive widowed doctor and with time, love and a hurricane a lot of healing happens.

I think I will put on my to do list, a trip to Charleston and the outer islands. My soul feels it’s pull.

The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

    Have you ever read a book and thought how on earth did the universe know this was exactly what you needed to read at that very moment? That is how I feel about The Last Original Wife.  While my personal story differs from the one in book, there are similarities. Les is a woman quickly approaching 60 and she decides to alter her life. Of course in books, there is always a new love interest waiting in the wings and new found wealth.

    In my own personal story, no such luck. But the underlying feelings that Les experiences are ones to which I can relate. She is afraid of the future and worried about living the remainder of her life unhappy. I too was unhappily married but fear kept me from leaving. I didn’t end up divorced until my ex-husband left me for another woman. Like Les, I wonder if I was a good mother or did I fail my children. I wonder if I had done things differently would my marriage have worked out. I’ve had to stand by and watch myself being replaced by a much younger woman.

   Ms Frank has an incredible way of describing the low country of South Carolina. She makes me want to move there. It reminds me I don’t really belong anywhere like Les belongs in Charleston. Her vivid descriptions of southern manners and way of life are easily envisioned through her words.